Apparatus for mixing fluids

ABSTRACT

Mixing apparatus comprises co-axial fluid supply passages opening into an expansion and mixing chamber into which the fluids pass as a mist, the chamber being formed between two members which rotate in opposite directions, one carrying blades which pass through the chamber. The chamber leads through an annular throttle passage between rotating walls to a homogenisation chamber in which a mixer rotates.

United States Patent 1191 Foucault 1111' 3,752,444 1451 Aug. 14, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR MIXING FLUIDS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [761 lnvemO" Fulfill", 12, Avenue du 680,854 8/1960 Canada 259/010. 30

Vesinet, Croissy sur Seine, France [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1971 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Assistant Examiner-Philip B. Coe [21] Appl' l68627 Attorney-Charles J. Diiler et al.

[52] US. Cl. 259/2, 259/DIG. 30 51 Int. (:1 B01! 13/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 259/DlG. 30, 2, 3, Mixing apparatus comprises co-axial fluid supply pas- 8 sages opening into an expansion and mixing chamber into which the fluids pass as a mist, the chamber being [56] References Cited formed between two members which rotate in opposite UNITED STATES PATENTS directions, one carrying blades which pass through the 2,441,711 5/1948 McFadden 259/1310. 30 chamber' The chamber hmugh annular, "9" 2,516,455 7/1950 Edwards 25911310. 30 Passage between mating Walls a 2,673,075 3/1954 Borck 259/DIG. 3o hamber in which a mixer rotates- 2,738,930 3/ 1956 Schneider 259/DIG. 30 3,457,047 7/1969 Tokimatsu et al. 259/6 x 12 Claims 3 Drawing Flames 2s 24 53 Q 26 28 I 5 1 30 r 25 54 39 v PAIENIEnmc 14 ms 3 752,

sum 1 nr 2 1 APPARATUS FOR MIXING FLUIDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for the mix-ing of fluid products such as, for example, two or more liquids to which there may, or may not, have been added products in powder form.

Mixing apparatus of this type is already known which is designed to operate continuously or discontinuously, slowly or rapidly.

In the apparatus which operates discontinuously, generally slowly, sufficient amounts of the products to be mixed are introduced and then the apparatus performs the mixing operation.

The length of time taken to produce a suitable mixture of the products is difficult to regulate and, depending on the circumstances of the case, if the residence time is tooshort. the products are insufficiently mixed or else if the operation time is too long a certain separation may occur which is also detrimental.

With regard to apparatus which operates continuously in which the residence time is fairly short, the primary mixing of the fluids is always inadequate and streams or pockets of different mixtures are formed, making the homogenisation of the product in the course of subsequent operations unreliable if not impossible.

The aim of thepreserit'invention is to avoid these disadvantages and an apparatus is proposed which, in addition to its simple and robust construction, is particularly reliable in its functioning and iscapable of performances of a high level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION sation space traversed by rotary blades of a mixer connected to the other component part.

It is advantageous if the rotary component parts have truncated conical walls permitting easy adjustment of the annular throttle passage simply by the axial displacement of one of them.

In a preferred embodiment the'fluid supply passages comprise a pipe extending vertically and flared at its free end and a tubular element surrounding, but spaced from, the pipe. Two inlets, coaxial with the mixing chamber, may be formed in this way; they admit fluid to said chamber at low pressure, where they are brought into a spray or mist phase by the cooperative action of the rotary members.

After this initial phase, the fluids are subjected to a second" phase, the throttle phase, which in turn is situated upstream of a third phase known as the homogenisation phase, after which the products which are intimately mixed are finally transferred by means of a discharge pump.

An apparatus of this type offers many advantages and a wide range of possibilities for the mixing of fluids. For example, the apparatus enables the mixing of liquid fluids or liquid fluids-with gaseous fluids and, furthermore, in precise proportions depending on the desired result. This result is obtained through the fact that the continuous and very rapid mixing can be regulated while the apparatus is working by variation of the amounts of fluid supplied, or else by variation of the speed of rotation of the components.

A. further advantage resides. in the fact that the cleaning of the apparatus, and more especially the cleaning of the internal rotating parts, can be carried out advantageously at the end of operations automatically by the introduction of suitable materials so that the apparatus can be used again immediately for mixing different products.

, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a sectional elevation view of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a similar partial view of an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment diagrammatically.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus, intended for mixing two or more fluids, consists essentially of a housing 10 accommodating in its hollow lower portion 11 driving means 12, 13 which are associated with coaxial tubular elements, indicated overall with a body 26.

bearings 35 and 36 at top and bottom respectively,

while suitably disposed seals 37 to 39 ensure a tight seal between the various elements.

The upper part the head 23 has, on its upper face 40 which is in the formof a truncated cone, blades 41.

There may, for example, be three blades 41. The lower part of the head 42 follows the shape of the mixer body 26. i

The head 23 has an axial passage 43 ending on the side of the upper face 40 with an outwardly flared end 44 for a similarly flared end 45 of a first fluid supply pipe 46 delivering fluid from a pump P,. This part 45 itself partially receives a boss 47 on a cap 48 which covers the head 23. The boss 47 is provided with a screw 50, the free end 51 of which penetrates into the aforementioned pipe 46, while the cap 48 and the head 23 are shaped so as to form a circular contact chamber C between them.

This arrangement results in a first annular space B being obtained between the boss of the cap 48 and the end 45 of the pipe 46, and a second annular space E, which is formed between the said end 45 and the flare 44 of the head 23. The annular space E. is supplied with fluid by the pump l while the annular space E extending to the lower portion of the apparatus is supplied with fluid by a pump P The upper face 40 of the head 23is inclined from the centre towards the periphery and opens into a cylindrical part, or skirt, which with the inner wall of the cap 48 forms an annular throttle passage L which communicates with the mixer by way of the passages 53 provided at the base of the cap 48 which, as can be seen clearly, is secured by a screw 54 to the body of the mixer 24.

The part and its associated head 23 and the part 14 with its mixer 24 rotate in opposite directions, while the combined capacities of the pumps P, and P is slightly less than that of the evacuation pump P which is connected up to the channel 32 so that a relative vacuum is obtained in the circular contact chamber C which is formed between the head 23 and the cap 48.

In the case under consideration the apparatus is intended for mixing two fluids supplied by the pumps P, and P respectively, but it is obvious that the apparatus could be so arranged as to permit the mixing of three or more fluids.

During its operation the apparatus illustrated effects the mixing of two fluids by successive phases which can be analysed as follows:

a. thorough and vigorous mixture between the products in the droplet or mist phase in the contact chamber C;

b. rolling of the fluids in the annular space L;

c. homogenisation in the chamber 24;

d. eventual transfer by the discharge pump P for immediate use or for storage, as required.

Thus two liquids can be mixed, for example bitumen and water; it is also possible to mix a gas and a liquid, for example a mother solution of chlorine can be mixed with water for purification. Furthermore two gases, combustible for example, and of different origins can be combined and mixed intimately with a high degree of safety and in a particularly practical manner. The apparatus can also be used for the scrubbing of gases.

Special reference will now be made to FIG. 2 which shows a variant in which the cap 48A and the head 23A are in the form of a cone frustum, making possible an extremely precise regulation of the annular throttle passage Ll", simply by axial displacement of one or both of the above-mentioned components.

In FIG. 3 illustrating in diagrammatic form another embodiment, a first fluid is admitted to the upper part of the apparatus by means of a pipe 60 which has a dome-shaped head 61 at its free end.

The aforementioned pipe 60 and its associated head 61 are fixed and are encircled on the one hand by a rotary head 63 and on the other by a cap 62, these parts defining an annular contact chamber C andbeing capable of rotational movements in opposite directions.

A second intake of fluid is provided coaxially with the pipe 60 as indicated at 64 between the outer wall of the pipe 60 and the inner wall of a passage 65 formed in the rotary head 63, while an annular throttle passage, which preferably can be adjusted, is formed between the outer surface of the head 61 and the wall opposite the cap 62.

The invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing examples.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for mixing two fluids, said apparatus comprising two components defining therebetween an expansion and mixing chamber, means mounting said components for relative rotation, blades mounted on one of said components for rotation therewith within said chamber, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, coaxial fluid supply passages opening into said chamber at said inlet for supplying fluids to said chamber, said chamber and said supply passage being of relative portions enabling fluid entering into said chamber to pass into a state generally of the mist and droplet phase type, an annular throttle passage connected to said chamber outlet for receiving fluids therefrom, an enclosed homogenisation space disposed downstream of said throttle passage for receiving liquids passing therethrough, and a rotary mixing member connected to the other of said components for rotation within said homogenisation passage.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said com ponents rotate in opposite directions.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rotary mixing member comprises a mixer having rotary mixing blades.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 together with a fixed housing and a first tubular element, means mounting said first tubular element for rotation in said housing, said rotary mixing member being carried by said first tubular element for rotation therewith, said other component including a cap carried by said first tubular element, a second tubular element and means mounting said second tubular element within said first tubular element for rotation, said one component including a head carried by said second tubular element, and said blades being carried by said head.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said coaxial fluid supply passages are defined by said second tubular element and a pipe located in said second tubular element with an annular clearance therebetween, one end of said pipe and one end of said second tubular element being disposed adjacent said head and said cap and each of said pipe end and said second tubular element end having a flared terminal portion opening out towards said expansion and mixing chamber.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said cap has a central protuberance projecting at least partially into the flared portion of said pipe, said protuberance carrying a screw having a free end projecting into said pipe.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said pipe has a free end portion provided with a dome-shaped head which is located with clearance between said cap and said head said fluid passage defined by said pipe opens out on to an upper surface of said dome-shaped head and the other of said fluid passages is formed in part between said pipe and said first mentioned head and opens out on to a lower surface of said domeshaped head, said dome-shaped head being lens-shaped with convex faces.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said head is generally in the shape of a truncated cone having a cylindrical skirt cooperating with an adjacent wall of said cap to define said annular throttle passage.

for receiving mixed fluids and there is a discharge pump connected to said last mentioned annular passage for creating a reduction of pressure in the said mixing chamber.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which the fluids are supplied by means of further pumps connected to the fluid supply passages, the total capacities of these further pumps being less than that of said discharge pump. 

1. Apparatus for mixing two fluids, said apparatus comprising two components defining therebetween an expansion and mixing chamber, means mounting said components for relative rotation, blades mounted on one of said components for rotation therewith within said chamber, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet, coaxial fluid supply passages opening into said chamber at said inlet for supplying fluids to said chamber, said chamber and said supply passage being of relative portions enabling fluid entering into said chamber to pass into a state generally of the mist and droplet phase type, an annular throttle passage connected to said chamber outlet for receiving fluids therefrom, an enclosed homogenisation space disposed downstream of said throttle passage for receiving liquids passing therethrough, and a rotary mixing member connected to the other of said components for rotation within said homogenisation passage.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said components rotate in opposite directions.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saId rotary mixing member comprises a mixer having rotary mixing blades.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 together with a fixed housing and a first tubular element, means mounting said first tubular element for rotation in said housing, said rotary mixing member being carried by said first tubular element for rotation therewith, said other component including a cap carried by said first tubular element, a second tubular element and means mounting said second tubular element within said first tubular element for rotation, said one component including a head carried by said second tubular element, and said blades being carried by said head.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said coaxial fluid supply passages are defined by said second tubular element and a pipe located in said second tubular element with an annular clearance therebetween, one end of said pipe and one end of said second tubular element being disposed adjacent said head and said cap and each of said pipe end and said second tubular element end having a flared terminal portion opening out towards said expansion and mixing chamber.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said cap has a central protuberance projecting at least partially into the flared portion of said pipe, said protuberance carrying a screw having a free end projecting into said pipe.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said pipe has a free end portion provided with a dome-shaped head which is located with clearance between said cap and said head said fluid passage defined by said pipe opens out on to an upper surface of said dome-shaped head and the other of said fluid passages is formed in part between said pipe and said first mentioned head and opens out on to a lower surface of said dome-shaped head, said dome-shaped head being lens-shaped with convex faces.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said head is generally in the shape of a truncated cone having a cylindrical skirt cooperating with an adjacent wall of said cap to define said annular throttle passage.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which said throttle passage is formed as a truncated cone between said skirt of said head and said wall of said cap.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which said rotary mixing member has a body with a base, said cap having a screw thread connected with said body and having at said base holes establishing communication between said annular throttle passage and said homogenisation space.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said rotary mixing member opens out into an annular passage for receiving mixed fluids and there is a discharge pump connected to said last mentioned annular passage for creating a reduction of pressure in the said mixing chamber.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which the fluids are supplied by means of further pumps connected to the fluid supply passages, the total capacities of these further pumps being less than that of said discharge pump. 